Zastava M12 “Black Spear" .50 Cal Sniper Rifle

In this episode of TFBTV, ‪@JamesReeves‬ is at Zastava HQ in Serbia looking at the brand new Zastava M12 Black Spear, the successor to the M93 Black Arrow. James first meets with Ranko of Zastava USA to discuss the M93 itself, as the M93 is the predecessor to the M12 and it shares many features with the M12 Black Spear. Afterwards, James visits the Serbian Zastava factory to talk with one of their engineers about the improvements made to the M93 in order to get to the Black Spear. Note that there are two versions of the black spear: The standard M12 with full length barrel, and the M12M, which has a shorter barrel and keymod handguard. Check today's video for details about this military-grade .50 cal sniper rifle.
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[@lakiza55]

Happy to see you and Ranko in the news here in Serbia the other day James. National televison too. Dad rushed to my room with "Come quick, one of your KZbinr gun guys is on the news!" 😄

[@KristianHerdi]

Samo da jos dodje "Gun Jesus" i nema kraja nasem radovanju!

[@9mmthroatpunch211]

What were they talking about in the news

[@lakiza55]

@@9mmthroatpunch211 His visit to Serbia and Zastava arms, Zastava USA and some footage of them having fun at the range

[@sevenus82]

@@KristianHerdi On više voli depoe sa referntnim kolekcijama i muzeje. XD

[@9mmthroatpunch211]

@@lakiza55 thank you...i was curious

[@GrenadeMcSticki]

ME: Sees a .50 defying gravity on a bi-pod. "What black magic is this?!" *Sees it's a Zastava* "Oh."

[@DeeDeex007o]

🤣🤣🤣

[@dw5523]

"This tells you that it's a complete unit." Sir, we need no help determining that this rifle is, indeed, a complete unit.

[@DavidK2007]

U 😤 N 😤 I 😤 T

[@Andalusian3C]

I honestly don't understand the hate Zastava gets on r/AK47. They're producing the best generation of pap rifles ever, have great customer service and transparent about their products and importation process. Great video!

[@cactus7198]

How are your zastavas holding up? Considering an m70 just for some fun range plinking.

[@PrestleyPlays]

I’ve been trusting Zastava more than KUSA right now

[@Andalusian3C]

@@cactus7198 M70 is great, not just for plinking, but for a SHTF rifle as well. I would trust it to defend life and property.

[@Andalusian3C]

@@PrestleyPlays You should, they've been making firearms for a long time and KUSA doesn't even have 1/100th of their history.

[@PrestleyPlays]

@@Andalusian3C True! I also used to own a Zastava Koral, or a Yugo haha

[@OpFriday]

Glad to see a video on a Zastava that isn't an AK, its refreshing.

[@desmondhumebrotha3522]

I’m pretty sure they also have pistols that are sig and tokarev clones.

[@vanja2565]

@@desmondhumebrotha3522 CZ99 family isn't exactly a clone, it has a few unique features, as designers say"it was inspired by sig". Tokarevs aren't really clones either considering that they chamber more rounds and are available in different calibers.

[@vanja2565]

Zastava is actually more famous for it's mausers than Aks around the world.

[@Mike_858]

A gigantic Mauser 98 action, thats just really cool.

[@bosesebi6685]

If it works.. dont fix it.

[@Britva83]

That Serbian stuff rocks. Good episode, James!

[@CalzaTheFox]

Very respectful. Says a lot about his admiration for the company.

[@galicije83]

James I am glad to see you in my country and I hope you have great time visiting Zastava Arms and of course my small but beautiful country. Greetings from Serbia to all good people all around the world.

[@howiemandel5787]

What’s the weed situation like in Serbia? Like as a tourist from California in America (which has the best legal market in the world) if I try to meet a local to get some weed in A major city in Serbia how horrible is it gonna be compared to California weed?like it it gonna be completely unsmoke-able dirt dogshit weed or will it just be like good but not super duper strong?

[@pewpew9193]

Are you Nikola Jokic? Sorry, I just assume everyone from Serbia is Nikola Jokic.

[@galicije83]

@@pewpew9193 My name is Nikola, but surname is different... Well we also have our legend Vlade Divac, known in USA also great player Peja Stojakovic...legend who play in NBA with Vlade in Sacramento Kings ... Also Nikola Tesla was Serb, as Mihajlo Pupin good friend of yours Woodrow Wilson...

[@galicije83]

@@howiemandel5787 I do not use drags...so i do not know how quality is weed here,,,also it illegal here in serbia...I guess u can buy it on the street..we have good drag lords all over the world so quality is u guess good...

[@pewpew9193]

@@galicije83 You have a new rookie in the NBA named Nikola Jovic. I think he is going to be really good. It's crazy how many great players Europe is putting in the NBA. I think the 3 best players in the world are all from Europe right now. Doncic Giannis Jokic You guys also have some awesome firearms coming out of Serbia. A company thats been around a long time called Zastava. They produce some fantastic rifles.

[@Nogeri]

Smiling at the thought of reloaders cringing at the sight of all that brass being dropped on concrete

[@H_Hold]

It isn't my brass; but of it were- I'd cringe

[@anon_y_mousse]

Wouldn't bother me, I'm all about jank.

[@danielburnette9552]

dropping brass on concrete doesnt hurt anything. a few scratches wont hurt the brass

[@caseknifes]

Great job James. Showing respect where it is deserved.

[@BeTeK11]

My friend fixed Zastava 750 as a summer car :) fun car to drive :)

[@Jobe_Island]

TFB TV is the reason I want to vacation in Serbia

[@ghostsethrich7306]

Did it. Very very cheap, great food. Also EVERYONE speaks English. Sure does make shit easy 👍

[@TheTAEclub]

@@ghostsethrich7306 very nice!!

[@Whatta33]

Bro Just go. You won’t be sorry. I just spent a whole month there with my family…but my wife is Serbian hahahaa

[@ghostsethrich7306]

@@Whatta33 the key might be having local contacts. I was there with friends who were locals, too.

[@gamps2771]

@@ghostsethrich7306 having locals is definitely some kind of game changer (but this probably counts for every place/country lol)

[@haruthewhiteninja]

Always cool to see the people behind these products

[@dann3skjold]

Zastava is just crushing it lately. You love to see it.

[@stefanpettersson1171]

A scaled down version of this would be sick

[@Arkeo36]

I was just thinking a new production 7.62x51 and really a 8mm Mauser version with this kind of chassis or whatever you'd call it would be very sweet indeed.

[@specialperson170]

Theres already so many other rifles like that what is the point

[@hjorturerlend]

It's an antique, but that would be the old French FR F1/2 sniper rifles.

[@Migwelp]

The M77 exists. Customize it with whatever. No market for anything else tbh.

[@thomaswilson8022]

@@Migwelp 338

[@zexedearth89]

Hey James i hope you enjoyed Serbian food and your stay here :D

[@tfbtv]

Loved it, 10/10 would go back/listen to Ceca again

[@zexedearth89]

@@tfbtv hahah glad to hear!

[@JDWalkerDrummer]

@@tfbtv If you liked Ceca, you'd love Jana and Dragana Mirkovic

[@DraganB52]

Hey James I hope you tried the homemade plum brandy white lightning the best

[@cappox]

The name Black Spear already makes this rifle cool af

[@TheWolfDude91]

@Nemanja Majin druze mislim da si pomesao loncice, m93 je crna strela, a m12 je nova puska i zove se crno koplje, bukvalno pise black spear na samoj pusci novog modela

[@RocketLR]

LOOL.. i was traveling this year in serbia. I was in kragujevac i think and a bit lost.. While wandering i look up and behind me is a giant white building with the letter “Zastava”. I was like huh cuul..

[@CA.0verview]

2:25 Mauser 98 action , that’s all I needed to hear. Getting myself one right now💎

[@VelikiHejter]

You need sniper ammo to use it as a sniper rifle, it's primarly anti-material platform. But it is quite accurate, I mean more accirate then I am anyway.

[@TAR3N]

I’d like to see more of these kinds of videos from the factory! James - i wish you and your team a happy and successful 2022 and beyond

[@Genesis23OPB]

big respect to the translating lady, simultaneous translating is insanely hard

[@03Grunt-arrino]

Somewhere, Brandon Herrera shudders.

[@toddk1377]

I love me some 50 BMG! I remember I wanted one when I was 16 back when I first watched Tremors 2 when Burt just blasted stuff with that Grizzly LAR Big Bore. That movie was a horrible influence on me 🤣, instead of buying a Barret, I got a deuce and a half instead, but no regrets!Took me over 15 years before I finally got one and I can't believe I was able to live life that long without one! The power is immense, but also, with good ammo, they are very, very accurate and if you have flinching issues, once you get comfortable with it, there will be no other caliber that will make you intimidated so that flinching reaction is gone. That Zastava looks very well made, never shot one of those, but I'd love too!

[@pappaflammyboi5799]

I learned a lot about the Zastava M12, and the letter 'A'. Like A lot...

[@jackusmc2542]

James, You .50 Caliber Maniac, You! Great video. Amazing rifle. Thanks.

[@RocketLR]

Damn, I have half of mind to move to Serbia and apply for a job at Zastava.

[@youmad7068]

It is state owned company so not the best salaries, but if you are into IT then you should definitely come you can find plenty of well paid jobs in Serbia in that sector and it is beautiful and safe country.

[@RocketLR]

​@@youmad7068 Haha, money does not motivate me anymore. I've chased career and money for a decade. Im a cloud engineer at Ericsson, developing 5G/6G Infrastructures and labs. So i think i could be useful somewhere haha. But yeah, I love Serbia and the people there. I could move there and just work as a bartender for all i care. As long as i have some money left for coffee and beer. The important things in life haha

[@MrNemanjanex]

just to know, USA in 1999. bombing Serbia..... and guess factory Zastava same.....

[@RocketLR]

@@MrNemanjanex i don’t understand your point? You mean that it’s suspicious that the zastava factory didnt get destroyed or that it also got bombed?

[@MrNemanjanex]

@@RocketLR i mean carefuly with coming in Serbia ;)

[@VTPSTTU]

Thanks for the video. Those are great rifles.

[@stanislavt6376]

Љепота! Beautiful spear!!!

[@stanley1554]

Excellent. I really enjoyed this video!!

[@luckyboyyt8582]

I'm getting strong mom and pop craft brewery vibes from Zastava. I like that everything is made with such detail and care. I'm definitely interested in shooting any of their rifles. Including the m19.

[@deutzer5630]

i had the m19 in my hands and it feels like u where born with it, too bad it was only on display so shooting was not an option..

[@luckyboyyt8582]

@@deutzer5630 that's awesome man, that's still a neat opportunity. Hopefully one day we all can buy one of our own!

[@marcopereira8631]

0:31 James, I’m here 70% for this moment and 30% for the rifle.

[@Shimazusama]

TFBTV factory visits are super cool. Been loving all the EU content.

[@RandoCalrisiann]

Great episode James. Zastava really knows how to build a beautiful piece of kit!

[@MountainBikeTx]

Pretty sure I need this in my life

[@StrugeLabs]

such a clean sniper... wow

[@dixonbourne]

Great video. I own a NPAP, and I absolutely love it.

[@slobodanstojanovic8125]

I heared some americans complaining on Npaps mostly guys complaining but saying i have 2 and they are awesome lol also werent some of the blame on Century Arms?

[@jimmywilliamson8540]

Yes I'll take one James. Thank you !

[@bulletsalad6914]

I have a zastava M48 mauser and a zastava M56 sks both are great rifles

[@catharsis89]

James posting all the deer hunting rifles as whitetail season approaches

[@germaxicus6670]

I remember the first deer I saw many seasons ago. It was hiding behind about 12 trees and my .308 couldn’t punch through. If only I had this baby. Lol

[@ascalon132]

Great editing job with the interpretater.

[@JohnAdams-mu7xd]

Love this company!!!!

[@SS-tr5ru]

Dude the m12 looks incredible

[@iwillnotcomply007]

Very cool. Thanks for the great content.

[@kalin6149]

You had me sold when calling the trigger "how you say crispy"

[@Bozha_Kapetanovic91]

Bravo, hello from Serbia!

[@Punisher_92]

We have in Serbia M93 Black Arrow and M12 Black Spear both chambered with .50 cal

[@CA.0verview]

8:31 that cigar shot was epic . The report of that brake 🤌

[@DarkBaron123]

Zastava USA, we demand the m21 for the US market, and we needed it yesterday.

[@Ascetiq]

Crispy trigger is crispy

[@fuzzyreticle]

Cool rifles. A little spendy for me but a lot less expensive than other options.

[@lackytaffy3399]

Looks beautiful

[@kevinv6455]

I need one of these

[@sealove79able]

A great video Mr.James. What was going on with the sound? I wonder if the Zastava will develop a bullpup version of this rifle, without the civil war interruption.

[@atranimecs]

People always talk about putting the bipod at the end of a rifle but putting it on the balance point of a gun makes more sense.... Also I feel like people dont understand that sometimes when you shoot a target they are below you and putting a bipod at the end of your rifle doesnt allow you the ability to shoot down at lower elevation targets....what do you think?

[@sealove79able]

A great video Mr.James. It makes me wonder how much would this rifle cost if it had a carbon fibre barrel and furniture and titanium parts . They should offer a single shot model for the civilian market.

[@raleighthomas3079]

Carbon fiber is not a good idea, the drastic weight reduction equates to much more recoil. Maybe to the point of being unshootable.

[@sealove79able]

@@raleighthomas3079 Thank you. It is the.50BMG after all.

[@tj36b6]

I've been hoping that Zastava will start bringing the M70 in the under folder configuration to the U.S

[@ericrumpel3105]

Great video - Thanks fer sharing & I'll have the M93/98.....lol

[@CertifiedSunset]

It would be cool to see a "M12 Black Arrow Ultralite" or something like it for less money in 6.5 creedmoor or the new Sig 6.8x51 (.277 SIG Fury) which is better than 6.5 creedmoor.

[@maximaleffort]

cool. thx.

[@CoreyFPiazza]

When I first saw Zastava and 50 BMG, my first thought was, "Sorry, Brandon, someone beat you to it."

[@VelikiHejter]

Nothing to do with AK, Brandon is safe. Closest thing is actually French FR F2.

[@DEFENDOR-cx6gm]

1 year later Brandon finally did it

[@CrowHavenPastures]

maximum drip James Reeves

[@bobgretchenhollman4159]

The Barrett special mission rifle 338 Lapua for $5k vs Zastava 50 BMG for $7k. If both were in stock - that would be a tough decision.

[@jefferyboring4410]

I’m considering a Nolan rifle ultra light their under 3k I think but u have to wait on a list like all the others.

[@nickrockz97]

@@jefferyboring4410I saw that one, it looks badass, was it the noreen ulr 50?

[@KidFromQueens]

Cabela's, of all places, has em for $8800! At that price I'm def going to Barrett!

[@Taleton]

Je bem !!!! I need this beast !!!

[@EastCoastMan603]

Counsellor…what your opinion on Jorts ? Asking for someone else, who no-one here knows… Side Note - Springfield Armory is Thirsty…

[@hooyabaaa2]

Cool rifle... But for a $7K rifle price... (correct me if im wrong) Stery HS 50 (starts at 6,5 i think) Desert Tech HTI (not sure about the price, but looks around 8K) Barrett M95 (hard to find, but looks like a 7k) Cadex Tremor (it´s more expensive 9 to 9,5K, but for reviews it´s comparable to AI or McMillan quality and both costs 11 to 12K)

[@KapteinFruit]

James' question about if they are in military use made me think about the whole weapon manufacture game. Like how many guns are made in X country and are being sent to Y country. That statistic would be very interesting, VERY INTERESTING, but we mere mortals are not supposed to know this.

[@user-yr2in5il6x]

And you can look at the matter like this: In every issue you can see both bad intention and good intention, it depends on which aspect and which perception you look at it, for me the personal issue was not too personal for the danger of the security of a country, I simply look at this matter that way !

[@Lungorthin666]

Quite the chin-weld on that thing

[@orion310591RS]

One "funny" sniper story. At some special "border" there are some snipers in our country. Near that "border" there is a town. Sniper soldier knows a girl in that town. So he change direction and look into town. Then he recognize one female person, sitting in cafe bar and drinking coffee. Then he gives her a call. "Hey how it is going? you are at xxx place, drinking coffee, wearing white tshirt and white jeans", girl answers confused: "yea, how do you know?", sniper responds "dont worry, I see everything with sniper" :)

[@sealove79able]

A great video. In order to complete its projects without any distraction the Zastava Arms Co. should do the best if they purchased a plot of land somewhere beyond the Urals Mountains.I sure hope they make a bullpup .50BMG rifle. So Mr.James this rifle is or is not for the poors?

[@douglasm3310]

It’s a nice rifle but at that price it is approaching semi automatic .50 bmg prices. It would need to be about 4500-5k to be competitive.

[@maviskilpatrick7592]

That and it needs to take Barrett mags!!

[@lazarmarinkovic8486]

@@maviskilpatrick7592 Well the US import version is chambered in .50 BMG as an import requirement, so it PROBABLLY can take a barretta mag maybe...

[@nightwolf4838]

That intro music was poppin

[@xxx_z4426]

Did you shoot from the M-19? Itz a 6.5 grendel rifle zastava developed. It would be cool to see it.

[@lousassle7509]

James Reeves 2022: “Holy Sh*t”

[@mikewinning3282]

And if the rifle breaks you can remove the bolt and use it as a club.

[@nunyabeeswax2575]

I was thinking mini police baton/truncheon with the bolt handle acting as the hand grip when it gets spun around. What is a martial artists favourite beverage? Waahtaa!

[@Allen338LM]

James I wanna see a heads up yeast between this rifle and the McMullen -TAC 50C I'm in the market for a bolt action 50 and there the two I'm deciding between

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

It just looks like a grown up FR-F1 and that's adorable.

[@H3x4r35]

Looks like a bigger FRF1.

[@sealove79able]

Where was the part with the MD Loach filmed?

[@dutch0770]

Iron site 50 BMG 🤯

[@mtower235]

Ma Duece is iron sight

[@toddk1377]

Gotta have back ups! You'd be surprised how easy it is for a 50 cal to mess up a zero on an optic.

[@klee1410]

so ak 50 is now just Zastava at home?

[@Gen_Kael]

Cameraman picked the perfect spot to stand. He didn't want to eat gravel buckshot

[@twissted1277]

I have shot 50 BMG and its more than I need. But fun to watch.

[@TheGunner11]

At the price point it’s cheaper to get the Steyr, which is also combat proven and the gold standard in out of the box 50BMG accuracy.

[@badas45]

Very nice

[@sanja601]

Happy to see you in Serbia. The best gannss

[@AKS-74U]

Chrome lined barrel is new? I thought the M93 was chromed too?

[@cattameme]

I wanted one so bad I had to go take the bus to get one… they don’t let anyone else take the bus home with a 50 cal anymore. It was in a case but still worth my whole welfare check.

[@methanesprings4085]

Will this one blow a hole in my neck or not?

[@usonumabeach300]

Not that I'd ever be able to afford one, but what if I wanted the longer barrel on the m12?

[@DonnieDarko727]

James do you know if Ranko will be importing the M12?

[@damianbigelow9511]

Just tease us "poor's" with yet another $10,000 rifle.... I want one....

[@kevinv6455]

I wouldn't go hungry and I could share

[@Strelok7.62]

I have seen this rifle for a long time. And I just now realized it’s a FR-F1 in .50 cal

[@vanja2565]

not at all, it really is just an upscaled mauser

[@deutzer5630]

this guy with glases look so smart.

[@user-vd1hx2vp5n]

Wtat's your opinion about DXL-5 Опустошитель?

[@TheGunmakerFR]

it looks like a FR-F1, it has the same iron sight and the action and the forend looks the same

[@matthewpahl7516]

Both the action and fore-end look like the FRF2, not the mauser.

[@StefanStefan-uv4cc]

They probably didn't know about the F2 when someone " pitched " the design. And the closest thing was an M48, domestic copy of Kar 98. Plus, an average person in Serbia is not very worldly literate.

[@bluesnake1713]

Moving from arrows to spears.

[@dexteros5770]

Next is ,,Black Rocket,,😁

[@stefanpn]

M93 vs M12